Government has been asked to classify all health workers, including Anaesthetists, as “Frontline Health Workers” in the country’s fight against the Coronavirus pandemic.
The Ghana Association of Certified Registered Anaesthetists (GACRA), in a statement signed by its President, James Nwinsagra, among other demands, asked the Ministry of Health, to as a matter of urgency, “reconsider its definition of Frontline Health Worker to include all staff, but not only those who are directly in care of the positive test cases.”
The government recently announcement plans to offer insurance packages for “frontline health workers” who are considered to be risking their lives in helping to fight the virus.
Speaking to ADR Daily, the General Secretary of the group, Fred Kwame Kpoxah explained that their call has become necessary because all health workers including Anaesthetists working in health facilities across the country are all exposed to risk, since some patients who are rushed in in an emergency state to the health facilities may not have gone through proper screening process for their status to be known.
“So what it means is that directly or indirectly every staff is at risk and not only the staff designated to take care of COVID-19 patients. Every staff in the hospital is a Frontliner directly or indirectly,” he said.
He said while the GACRA pledges its commitment to the fight against the Coronavirus pandemic, the government needs to expedite action in ensuring adequate provision of personal protective equipment are made available to all health workers for their safety.
By Benjamin Nana Appiah/ adrdaily.com
